Luxury cars lined the long driveway outside the private estate where the engagement party was being held. The guest list included some of the most prominent people in high society.
As soon as Evelyn stepped out of her car, the chatter near the venue entrance ground to a sudden halt.
She was wearing a flowing silvery-white silk gown that swept gracefully around her ankles. Her long, wavy hair fell past her waist, and her composed attitude made her look effortlessly striking.
The dress was the final piece ever designed by Starlight, one of the world's most exclusive fashion icons, making it an irreplaceable custom creation that money simply couldn't buy.
The surrounding guests stared without bothering to hide it. A few looked completely amazed, others wore clear expressions of envy, and quite a few eyed her with blatant mockery and pity.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up. The soon-to-be widow herself," a sharp voice called out.
It was Chloe Harris, Jessica's closest friend.
She blocked Evelyn's path and sneered at her dress. "Today's about Jessica and Simon. Who are you trying to impress? That's obviously a knockoff. It screams cheap. Aren't you embarrassed?"
Evelyn didn't waste her breath on a reply and tried to step around her, but Chloe quickly grabbed her wrist and raised her voice to draw more attention.
"What, hit a nerve?" Chloe sneered. "All dressed up like that. Don't tell me you still have feelings for Simon. You're a married woman now. Act like it."
A few wealthy women standing nearby shuffled closer to join the conversation, snickering among themselves.
"I heard Kellan was rushed to the ER right before the wedding—still bedridden. A month without a husband, she must be desperate."
"She grew up in the middle of nowhere. Of course she has no class. Marrying into the Millers didn't fix that. Look at that dress. Who's she trying to seduce?"
"Simon pushed her away to save Jessica because he already knew what she was really like. A woman like that deserved to be dumped."
The insults rained down, until Evelyn had enough. She weighed her options—break Chloe's arm, or silence her more subtly.
"Are you done?" she asked. Her voice stayed cool, but it had an edge that Chloe had never heard before.
Chloe flinched under Evelyn's gaze—then went red with rage. "How dare you! Your husband's not here because he's dying or because he can't stand being seen with you?"
Evelyn showed none of her old timidness. Her calm made Chloe's outburst look even more ridiculous, which only made Chloe angrier.
"Think the Miller name protects you?" Chloe sneered. "Everyone knows Simon dumped you. You're just like used goods. The Millers will throw you out soon enough too!"
Evelyn raised her hand and slapped her. The sharp sound cut through the crowd, and Chloe stared back in shock.
"Now will you shut up?" Evelyn asked.
"You bitch! You actually hit me!"
Furious, Chloe lifted her hand to slap Evelyn back. Before she could swing, tires squealed as a black Bentley screeched to a halt, a black SUV right behind it.
The SUV doors opened, and several bodyguards in black suits rushed out. In seconds, they surrounded Chloe and pulled her hand off Evelyn's wrist.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Chloe screamed in panic. "Do you know where you are? Do you know who I am? You won't last a day if you don't let me go!"
The lead bodyguard stayed completely expressionless. "You dared to insult Mrs. Miller?"
Chloe froze when she spotted the dark-gold Miller crest on his collar. These men belonged to the Miller family, whose reach extended from the pinnacle of high society to the depths of the underworld.
The crowd went quiet. The guests who had been mocking Evelyn just moments earlier didn't dare say another word.
Chloe's arrogance vanished. "S-so what if you're with the Millers? I didn't even do anything…"
Even as she protested, panic was clearly taking over. She'd always heard that Evelyn had no standing in the family, that the Millers barely acknowledged her. So why were those bodyguards protecting her?
Just then, the rear passenger door of the Bentley opened slowly.
Kellan stepped out—same black suit. Cold fury hid beneath his calm face, and the crowd shrank back.
Evelyn stared at him, completely surprised. He had said he wasn't coming. What changed his mind?
Ignoring the nervous looks around him, Kellan walked straight to Evelyn and slipped an arm around her waist. He pulled her against him in a smooth, possessive way.
"M-Mr. Miller…" Chloe collapsed to the ground, her voice shaking.
Kellan looked down at Evelyn and gently brushed a loose strand of hair from her face. Then he lifted his gaze to the crowd with cold eyes.
"Let me make one thing clear," he said. "No one disrespects my wife and gets away with it."
